Johnny Lee Riley, Possession of Stolen Firearm, West Virginia 2016

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A local man has been caught up in a firearms conspiracy after he admitted to his role in a scheme to steal and sell guns. Johnny Lee Riley, age 28, pled guilty to one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm in a court hearing.

Riley’s crime occurred in Upshur County in October 2016. He admitted to receiving, possessing, bartering, concealing, or selling 10 firearms during this time. This serious offense has now caught up with Riley, who is facing up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000.

The court will take into consideration the seriousness of the offense and Riley’s prior criminal history, if any, when determining the actual sentence imposed. This process will be guided by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The investigation into Riley’s activities was a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies. These agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Buckhannon Police Department, and the Weston Police Department.

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). This program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the court hearing. Riley’s fate will now be decided by the court, and he will face the consequences of his actions.